One skier at Mt Hotham said on Monday “it’s 3.48pm on Monday afternoon. I can feel a couple of sun kissed freckles emerging on my nose and I’m short of breath. I feel fantastic. Our quick expedition to Orchard can only be described as unexpected. There was no indication, not even a whisper, of the incessant rain that poured down on Hotham over the weekend. I expected hard ice or wet slush, I was definitely not expecting the foot of fresh, light powder we got.”

An optimistic spokesperson told a similar story at Mt Bullet, where the resort has a 93cm (over 3 feet) base and 18 lifts running.

“Spring really has come on the mountain, and brought a mixed bag of weather with it over the week. Yesterday we had beautiful bluebird conditions, but today we expect to see cloudy skies, moderate to strong winds and highs of 3 degrees. With a strong front crossing the Alps, rain may come at times with thunderstorms being a possibility in the afternoon and evening. Looking ahead, showers and rain are expected tomorrow, falling as snow at times until the late afternoon. We expect these wetter conditions to change to snow by the weekend, and snow showers have been forecast for Saturday and Sunday!”

Broadly speaking, it’s a similar picture in post-earthquake New Zealand, with changeable weather and spring snow conditions reported in both areas on Mt Ruapehu (Turoa and Whakapapa).

A spokesperson said “the mountain saw 25cm of fresh snow coming on from the west last Thursday. More cold, wet snow from south-easterly winds topped his up on Friday night. On Saturday morning, locals woke to a picture perfect postcard view of snow covered lawns, with Ohakune and National Park covered in snow. The start of the week saw this change to heavy rain, but both ski areas still have good cover from top to bottom.”

Most resorts in New Zealand have seen new snow. Mt Hutt has got just over two metres of snow (7 feet) and received another 10cm on Saturday. At Treble cones there’s up to 180cm (6 feet) lying. The New Zealand ski season looks like it’s still got life in it yet.

The resorts of Pal and Arinsal form a single resort, linked by a cable car and a single ski pass. You thus have a fantastic ski resort right in front of your door step: 63 km of pistes (4 greens, 16 blues, 16 reds and 5
blacks) spread over over 700 ha and from 1′550m to 2′560m, 31 ski lifts, 2 ski schools with 140 ski teachers and 350 snow cannons which guarantee good conditions from the beginning of December to the end of April. Your pass is also valid for the Ordino/Arcalís resort at no extra cost! Check the winter activities section on our website for details.

Summer activities:
Trekking, Caldea (Europe’s largest recreational spa), cultural visits, horseback riding, mountain biking, trout fishing, 4×4, golf (there’s a pitch & putt 10 min from your apartment or chalet and 3 18-hole courses at a 1-hour drive), indoor and outdoor pools, mountain biking, tax-free shopping
(8 km) etc etc. Check our summer activity page for details.

Arinsal is surrounded by Andorra’s highest peaks such as the Coma Pedrosa (2′942m), ideal for trekking.

With the rental of your apartment or chalet, you have a 10% discount on entrances and treatments at Caldea, Europe’s largest recreational spa!

There are many fantastic excursions you can do on well marked trails which start right from your door step such as the Coma Pedrosa (2′942m), Andorra’s
highest peak, the Pic de Médécourbe (2′914m) and many others. What’s more,
there are 3 free mountain huts at a 1h30min. hike from the village as well as 7 mountain lakes! The GR 11 passes through Arinsal and the GRP passes just above!

Still need convincing?
Although many people have heard of Andorra with it’s kilometres of tax-fee shopping and its five ski resorts, only very few have actually ventured further than the Pas de la Casa or Andorra la Vella where a different world awaits them, still untouched by mass tourism and far away from the main shopping streets: mountains ranging up to almost 3′000m, quiet and beautiful valleys, mountain lakes that contain trout, forests with crystal streams.

Arinsal is located amongst this tranquillity, in one of Andorra’s prettiest valleys. Arinsal, along with Ordino and Pal, is one of the few villages in Andorra that has kept it’s charm without being invaded by huge hotels, mass tourism and the never ending coming and going of coaches. Although Arinsal does get animated during the winter months with a few pubs and discos, the rest of the year, you will just find a peaceful and quiet mountain village.
True, Arinsal is quite a ways from Pas de la Casa and Andorra la Vella.
Those only looking to buy cheap alcohol and petrol will not find what they are looking for in Arinsal. The pictures on our web site www.hola-andorra.com speak for themselves… what a contrast!

Who is Arinsal for?
In the winter, the main activity is obviously skiing followed by “après-ski”
for which Arinsal is well known for. In the spring time and fall, Arinsal is for those looking for a quiet and relaxing holiday, combined with a few walks in the mountains and cultural visits. During the summer months, a whole range of activities awaits you, from mountain biking, via trout fishing and trekking to doing absolutely nothing!

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This article was written by Paul Mikhelson from Hola Andorra – self catering apartments and ski chalets.